pouch, which set out
the boundaries of the grant of land, and it was translated to the king
by an interpreter. Dingaan said that it was good, and put his mark upon
it, and Retief and all the Boers were pleased, and smiled across their
faces. Now they would have said farewell, but Dingaan forbade them,
saying that they must not go yet: first they must eat and see the
soldiers dance a little, and he commanded dishes of boiled flesh which
had been made ready and bowls of milk to be brought to them. The Boers
said that they had already eaten; still, they drank the milk, passing
the bowls from hand to hand.

Now the regiment began to dance, singing the Ingomo, that is the war
chant of us Zulus, my father, and the Boers drew back towards the centre
of the space to give the soldiers room to dance in. It was at this
moment that I heard Dingaan give an order to a messenger to run swiftly
to the white Doctor of Prayers, who was staying without the kraal,
telling him not to be afraid, and I wondered what this might mean; for
why should the Prayer Doctor fear a dance such as he had often seen
before? Presently Dingaan rose, and, followed by all, walked through the
press to where the Captain Retief stood, and bade him good-bye, shaking
him by the hand and bidding him hambla gachle, to go in peace. Then he
turned and walked back again towards the gateway which led to his
royal house, and I saw that near this entrance stood the captain of the
regiments, as one stands by who waits for orders.

Now, of a sudden, my father, Dingaan stopped and cried with a loud
voice, "Bulalani Abatakati!" (slay the wizards), and having cried it, he
covered his face with the corner of his blanket, and passed behind the
fence.

We, the councillors, stood astounded, like men who had become stone; but
before we could speak or act the captain of the regiment had also cried
aloud, "Bulalani Abatakati!" and the signal was caught up from every
side. Then, my father, came a yell and a rush of thousands of feet, and
through the clouds of dust we saw the soldiers hurl themselves upon the
Amaboona, and above the shouting we heard the sound of falling sticks.
The Amaboona drew their knives and fought bravely, but before a man
could count a hundred twice it was done, and they were being dragged,
some few dead, but the most yet living, towards the gates of the
kraal and out on to the Hill of Slaughter, and there, on the Hill of
Slaughter, they were massacred, ever